ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is the OG of draft analysis and on Thursday, he made the fifth overall selection for the Jacksonville Jaguars in his first mock since the end of the 2024 NFL season.

He and Field Yates mocked the first 10 picks on ESPN First Draft posted on the NFL on ESPN YouTube channel. After Kiper drafted Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward to the Tennessee Titans (with the stipulation that no trades would be made in this particular mock draft), Yates broke the hearts of the Duval Devout. He picked Heisman Trophy Winner Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes with the second pick to the Cleveland Browns.

The reason Yates’ ruined the dreams of all the Travis hunters among the Duval Devout is based on some logic. “Travis Hunter would fill a need for every single team because he plays both ways. But for a Browns team that picked off four passes this year If you wanted to make him a full time corner opposite of Denzel Ward and play him at wide receiver as well to me that would be a totally justified value. . .”

Yates also assumes the Browns seek a quarterback in free agency to account for improving on Deshuan Watson’s poor performance last season and health status heading into the 2025 season.

It seems Jags fans would say the same thing about Hunter starting across from Tyson Campbell with the advantage of Trevor Lawrence waiting in the wings once he recovers from his offseason surgery.

At three Kiper picked Shedeur Sanders at quarterback for the Giants also from Colorado while Yates selected LSU Tigers Left Tackle Will Campbell for the New England Patriots.

It is here that Kiper selected Penn State Defense End Abdul Carter to Jacksonville at fifth overall.

The justification for picking a player who would have to compete for time with incumbents Josh Hines-Allen who got a huge contract extension last year and Travon Walker who completed a second consecutive season with 10+ sacks is that Kiper has him as the second-highest-graded player on his draft board (behind Hunter). In short, he is putting the talent of the player over the needs of the roster.

“I’m just gonna do it. . .,” said Kiper. “If think [Carter] gets down to that fifth spot it’s Mason Graham defensive tackle of [the] Michigan [Wolverines] who I have at three [on my draft board]; would feel a need area a void there and improve that position, but Abdul Carter for me; pass rushers —  especially one you can move around like Carter I think that would be too difficult and impossible to pass up.”

While the Jags defensive tackle Arik Armstead is rumored to be moving back inside as a permanent defensive tackle mainstay in the coming season, members of the Duval Devout might sour at this concept. That being said, Kiper also seems to think that Carter wouldn’t make it past the Patriots once we make it to draft night in April.